Recovering Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh will leave hospital soon, a government source said on Saturday, as clashes between his loyalists and opponents intensified in the capital. The source told Reuters Saleh will leave hospital in the coming days. But the wounded leader will stay on in Riyadh for the time being, the source added.

His prime minister, Ali Mohamed Megawar, wounded in the same attack, left hospital and moved into official Saudi accommodation earlier on Saturday, the source conveyed.

Meanwhile, forces loyal to Saleh skirmished with those of the Ahmar family in Sana'a, witnesses said. According to them, the two sides exchanged fire in the Hassaba district of the capital.

Separately, one protester was killed and three wounded in the southern city of Taiz when forces loyal to Saleh opened fire to disperse an anti-Saleh demonstration, witnesses said.